2 Questions re: walking & BP Monitors

[Freddie]

Regarding walking for exercise, either it be on a treadmill or on the sidewalk or in the mall: do you...
a) walk at a steady pace
b) walk at a fast pace
How long do you do either?

For home Blood Pressure monitors:
a) what brand do you use?
b) which type of monitor do you feel is more reliable, the cuff model or the wrist model?
c) have ever had to replace your BP monitor? If so, how often (every 6 months, once a year)

Thanks for taking the time, we appreciate it.
I'll expect to see what the ThrowDowners do as they head into their final week stretch.

 

[nngbwh]

Sidewalk- walk at a steady pace for 30 mintues
Omron blood pressure monitors with the cuff. Never had to replace the BP.

Thank you..................

 

[Cooker]

Hi Fred ... when I walk I walk in my neighborhood (some hills) and I walk at a pace that is comfortable to me ... I walk three miles in about forty five minutes ... I have never had a BP problem so I don't monitor it....

 

[Mentu]

Fred, I, too, try to walk a brisk steady pace. My basic walk is 2-3 miles along the river park path so I can walk farther if I choose or stop and rest for a few minutes if needed.

With respect to BP monitors, in all the reviews I've read, the cuff monitors are always considered more accurate. Wrist monitors appear to be sold more for the convenience of putting them on than for anything else. I asked my Doctor about this and she asked "How many Doctors have you seen using wrist monitors?"

If you want to monitor your status while exercising, you might consider a heart rate monitor you can wear during exercise. I set mine for the maximum desired heart rate and if I exceed that it sounds an alarm. Conversely, it also allows me to see that I am keeping my heart rate high enough to ensure I am achieving the desired degree of cardio vascular workout. These can be expensive and elaborate but the more simple ones perform very well. Monitoring heart rate is not, of course, the same as measuring blood pressure but for a person with normal heart function it is a helpful tool. You can sort of calibrate your system by periodically doing both. Once in a while, measure your BP before exercise and at peak exercise pause and measure again and, finally, measure your BP after resting for a few minutes following exercise. Comparing the BP readings to your heart rate will give you a sense of the relationship between your heart rate and blood pressure during exercise.

Larry